MC1477999 - Microsoft Teams: Removing Copilot from the chat list

Microsoft 365 Message Center announcement MC1477999.

MS Message Center's Summary

Microsoft is retiring the Copilot entry point from the Teams chat list on desktop and web clients between mid October 2026 and late October 2026, directing users exclusively to the Copilot app in the app bar. Existing data and conversations remain safe. Administrators should update internal training materials and support documentation, notify the help desk, and review app setup policies to ensure the Copilot app is pinned for users.

Administrator impact
No direct administrator action is required.
End user impact
Users will access Copilot through the app bar instead of the chat list and will see coachmarks guiding them during the transition.
Importance
3/10: This is a low impact interface change requiring only user communication and documentation updates.

Pin Microsoft Copilot Chat in the Microsoft 365 apps | Microsoft Learn

Microsoft Summary

Starting October 2026, Microsoft Teams will remove the Copilot chat list entry point, directing users to access Copilot solely through the Copilot app in the Teams app bar for a streamlined experience. Mobile users are unaffected, and no data will be lost. No action is required.

Message Center ID
MC1477999
Category
plan For Change
Severity
normal
Services
Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365), Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
Tags
User impact, Admin impact, Retirement
Published
2026-09-23
Last updated
2026-09-23
Expires
2026-11-19

[What and why] To provide a more consistent and streamlined Microsoft 365 Copilot experience in Microsoft Teams, we are simplifying how users access Copilot in Teams . Today, users can access Copilot either from the Teams chat list or from the Copilot app in the Teams app bar . Beginning in October 2026, we will remove the Copilot entry point from the Teams chat list and direct users to access Copilot through the Copilot app. The Copilot app provides access to the full set of Copilot capabilities, while the chat list entry point provides a more limited experience. This change creates a single, consistent access point for Copilot in Teams, helping users discover and return to Copilot more easily while reducing interface clutter. To help users transition, a coachmark will direct users from the chat list entry point to the Copilot app before the chat list entry point is removed. [Rollout schedule] Copilot chat list entry point removal (Worldwide, GCC): Beginning mid-October 2026 and expected to complete by late-October 2026 [Impact on your organization] Who is affected Organizations whose users access Microsoft 365 Copilot in Microsoft Teams Users of Microsoft Teams desktop and web applications who currently access Copilot from the Teams chat list. Mobile users are not affected. Platforms and services Microsoft Teams desktop Microsoft Teams web What will happen The Copilot entry point in the Teams chat list will be removed. Prior to the mid-October removal, users who access Copilot from the chat list will see a coachmark directing them to the Copilot app. The Copilot app in the Teams app bar will remain available and unchanged. If the Copilot app has been unpinned from the Teams app bar, users will be directed to the app overflow menu where they can locate the Copilot app. Existing Copilot conversations, notifications, supported deep links, and session continuity will continue to work. No user conversations, prompts, chat history, or Copilot data will be removed. Mobile experiences are unchanged. This change is enabled by Microsoft and does not require tenant configuration. Before: After: [Action required and recommendations] No action is required. We recommend that administrators: Inform users that Copilot in Teams will be accessed through the Copilot app in the Teams app bar going forward. Update internal training materials, screenshots, adoption content, and support documentation that reference the Copilot chat list entry point. Notify help desk and support teams before rollout. Review Teams app setup policies and consider pinning the Copilot app for users if it is not already pinned. Monitor user feedback after rollout and direct users to the Copilot app if they are looking for the retired chat list entry point. Learn more Pin Microsoft Copilot Chat in the Microsoft 365 apps | Microsoft Learn [Compliance considerations] No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.